Heat Medium Tank Preheating for Controlled Melt Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat medium storage systems face risks of damage to the tank and catalyst degradation during reactor startup, and require significant energy to maintain heat medium in liquid form, especially when power sources are limited.
Innovation Solution
A heat medium storage apparatus with a temperature adjusting portion that extends within or around the tank, comprising a first part in contact with the heat medium and a second part exposed to gaps, allowing for controlled melting and volume expansion without tank damage, using molten salts like potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the heat medium is continuously heated to keep it in liquid form, then the heat medium remains in liquid form, but massive energy is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the heat medium, allowing it to transition between solid and liquid states. During storage, the heat medium is cooled to solidify and reduce energy consumption. Before reactor startup, the heat medium is heated to melt and ensure proper circulation, eliminating the need for continuous heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic heating and cooling cycles for the heat medium. Instead of continuous heating, the system periodically heats the heat medium before reactor operation and cools it during storage periods, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining operational readiness.
2Ease of operation
If the heat medium is heated to melt solidified heat medium, then the heat medium can circulate, but the catalytic activity of the catalyst may be impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the temperature parameter during heat medium melting, heating it only to the melting point and slightly above to ensure circulation while avoiding excessive temperatures that would damage the catalyst. This precise parameter control allows heat medium thawing without compromising catalyst activity.
3Quantity of substance
If the heat medium is stored in the heat medium tank, then the heat medium can be collected, but damage to the tank may occur due to heat medium expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the heat medium from liquid to solid during storage. Since the solid form occupies less volume, this phase transition creates sufficient space in the tank to accommodate volume expansion when the heat medium melts before reactor operation, preventing tank damage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents tank damage and catalyst degradation while efficiently transitioning heat medium to liquid form, reducing startup time and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a preheating device comprising a temperature adjusting portion capable of melting the heat medium in solid form contained in the inside space
Implementation Method 2
when the fixed-bed reactor is started up from a standstill to start a certain reaction, for example, there is a risk of damage to the heat medium tank due to expansion of the heat medium in the heat medium tank
Data Source
AI summary
A heat medium storage apparatus 10 including a heat medium tank defining an airtight inside space 22 and a preheating device 30 including a temperature adjusting portion 32 capable of melting the heat medium in solid form, wherein the temperature adjusting portion has a first part 32a and a second part 32b, when the temperature adjusting portion is provided so as to extend in the inside space, the first part is in contact with the heat medium so as to be covered with the heat medium, and the second part is provided so as to protrude into a gap area in which the heat medium is absent in the inside space and thereby the second part is exposed, and when the temperature adjusting portion is provided so as to extend in contact with the outer surface of the heat medium tank, the temperature adjusting portion extends in a contact manner so as to stretch from a first area corresponding to an area in contact with the heat medium in the inside space to a second area corresponding to an area not in contact with the heat medium in the inside space, the areas forming the outer surface of the heat medium tank, the first part being in contact with the first area, the second part being in contact with the second area.